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Ben Dixon – Class of March 2011

Ben left school at 16 with ‘no useful qualifications’ and drifted through a variety of jobs. Visiting friends in Weymouth, walking along the harbour, Ben heard himself say ‘I want to live on a boat.’ After falling in love with wooden boats on a sailing trip in Scotland, Ben joined the Academy. Straight after the course Ben worked in Sunseeker’s small moulds department, but when the opportunity arose to work at Spirit Yachts in Ipswich he jumped at the chance. He says the speed and accuracy required at Spirit was challenging at first, but he’s improving and enjoying every minute, currently working on a 42′ gaff yawl. He says ‘I may not be living on a boat yet, but when people ask me what I do, I can now confidently say; I am a boat builder.’ www.spirityachts.com